Wet fields at Long Valley, Hong Kong
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Autumn migration at Beidaihe 1986-1990 - species |
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Written by Martin Williams
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Saturday, 20 May 2006 |
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Autumn migration at Beidaihe 1986-1990 - species
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Bitterns, egrets and herons
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Spoonbills, Ibises, Storks
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Swans, Geese, Shelducks and Ducks
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Raptors
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Partridges, pheasants and quail
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Cranes
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Rails, Crakes, Coot and Bustards
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Shorebirds
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Skuas, Gulls and Terns
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Sandgrouse and Doves
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Cuckoos, Owls and Swifts
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Kingfishers, Dollarbird, Hoopoe, Wryneck and Woodpeckers
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Larks, Martins and Swallows
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Wagtails and Pipits
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Minivet, Bulbuls, Shrikes
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Waxwings, Orioles, Drongos and Starlings
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Crows
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Wrens and Accentors
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Robins and Chats
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Rockthrushes and Thrushes
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Laughinthrushes, Parrotbill and Bush-Warblers
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Marsh-, Grasshopper, and Reed Warblers
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Phylloscopus warblers, Cisticolas, Kinglets, hill warbler
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Flycatchers
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Tits
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Nuthatches, Wallcreeper and White-eyes
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Finches
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Buntings
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Page 15 of 29
Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus LT—passes in May, but no mention of autumn records. H—summer visitor, breeds. COE—138 bird-days, main arrival 14-16 May, remaining to breed. Ch—breeds throughout northeast China.
1986: seen from 19 August to 24 September. During the period to 9 September, the species was merely noted as present, still on breeding territory (at LH) and was not systematically recorded. A small number were seen from LH, apparently heading south—e.g. singles on 30 August, 1st and 10 September. From 10 September, all sightings were recorded when it became apparent that numbers had declined; we should have begun recording well before this date as, in the event, only 16 bird-days were logged to the end of passage. The highest count after 9 September was of eight flying south past LH on 12th.
1987: 191 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 11 September; 90 were recorded flying south; the highest day totals were 21 (six present, 15 flying south) on 25th and 22 (six present, 16 flying south) on 28 August.
1988 (Ho): 18 bird-days, 9-21 September.
1989: no records.
1990: 73 bird-days, highest day totals ten on 23rd and 11 on 24 August; all before 23 October.
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava LT—’immense flocks’ pass from the latter half of August to late September. H—seen from 17th and 18 August to 13 October and 11 September during two years. COE—1502 bird-days, 8 April to 1 June.
1986: 6719 bird-days, 20 August to 13 October; most were seen flying south, including 3647 recorded from LH. The main passage was during the three-week period 27 August to 16 September, when 2368, 2098 and 1188 bird-days were logged in successive weeks, making 5654 bird-days in total. The peak day count was 1438 (flying south, including 1095 recorded from SF) on 6 September. Seventy-seven bird-days were logged during October. Only 11 were racially identified. Of these, seven were M.f. simillima—singles on 29th and 30 August, 8th, 12th, 15th and 24 September and 2nd and 3 October (same bird on last two dates); two were M.f. macronyx—singles on 18th and 22 September, and one M.f. plexa was seen on 26 September.
1987: 7779 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 23 October; 7294 were recorded flying south, including 6389 from 18 August to 16 September. Highest day totals 910 on 30 August and 740 on 10 September.
1988 (Ho): 2066 bird-days, 8 September to 18 October; 530 were recorded on 12 September; only 71 bird-days in October.
1989: almost daily in small numbers from 16 September to early October; 35 bird-days (26 flew south), 8-26 October; highest day total 24 (all flying south) on 12 October.
1990: 2275 bird-days, highest day totals 382 on 24th and 227 on 31 August; all before 23 October.
We did not see ‘immense flocks’, as La Touche reported passing Qinhuangdao.
Citrine Wagtail (Yellow-hooded Wagtail) Motacilla citreola LT—no records. H—two spring records. COE—11 bird-days, 19 April to 20 May. Ch—breeds in northeast Hebei, migrates through the province.
1986: one flew south past LH on 17 September.
1987: one bird, 30 August.
1989: ‘Few’ seen 16-19 September.
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea LT—no records at Qinhuangdao, but two or three at foot of mountains in spring. H—no autumn records. COE—66 bird-days, 8 April to 31 May. Ch—breeds in Hebei.
1986: 151 bird-days, 21 August to 23 October. Twenty-one bird-days were logged in August and 88 during the first half of September, which proved to be the main passage period; 12 bird-days were logged from 30 September to 14 October; the final record was one on 23 October. The highest day total was 14 on 7 September; 63 were recorded from LH, flying south.
1987: 187 bird-days, 22 August to 3 November; 158 were recorded flying south, including 133 from 29 August to 1 October; the highest day totals were 14 (flying south) on 30 August and 11 (flying south) on 10 September.
1988 (Ho): 53 bird-days, 9 September to 17 October.
1989: 15 bird-days, 17 September to 7 October, maximum six on 25 September; eight bird-days (two flew south), 8 October to 6 November.
1990: 91 bird-days, highest day totals ten on 29th and 30 August and 12 on 15 September; all before 23 October.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba LT—M. a. leucopsis not often seen; M. a. ocularis passes from about mid-September to mid-October. H—seen between 4 September and 29 October (all White Wagtails); one M.a. baicalensis/M.a. leucopsis seen 14 October, at least four M.a. ocularis 25 September to 22 October. COE—724 bird-days, 17 March to 22 May.
1986: 2399 bird-days, 21 August to 17 November; 1470 were recorded from LH, flying south. Passage peaked about two weeks later than the Yellow Wagtail, during 10-30 September, when 1218 bird-days were logged; the highest day totals were 172 (flying south—165 recorded from LH, seven from SF) on 14th and 134 (121 recorded from LH, flying south; 13 at or overflying SF/Se). Passage was less concentrated than for the Yellow Wagtail. Single M.a. baicalensis were recorded on 25th and 31 August. There were 19 bird-days for M.a. leucopsis from 26 August to 30 September, and 14 for M.a. ocularis from 21 September to 2 November.
1987: 3662 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 11 November; 3208 were recorded flying south, including 2046 from 22 September to 11 October. Highest day totals of birds flying south were 320 on 25th, 334 on 26th, 345 on 27th, 314 on 28 September and 280 on 7 October.
1988 (Ho): 1976 bird-days, 8 September to 30 October; highest totals 247 on 12th, 485 over 20th-22nd, 195 on 30 September and 213 on 8 October.
1989: almost daily from 15 September to early October, 100 flew south on 18 September; 255 bird-days (65 flew south) were logged for White Wagtails of undetermined subspecies, 8 October to 6 November; highest day total 53 on 13 October. Five bird-days were logged for M.a. leucopsis: one at Re on 9th, two at the same locality on 14th and singles flying south on 23rd and 30 October. Fourteen bird-days were logged for M.a. ocularis: one at SF on 9th, and 12 at Re and one at LP on 14 October.
1990: before 23 October, 1182 bird-days, highest day totals 101 on 14th, 135 on 17th and 202 on 29 September. From 23 October, ten bird-days (one was recorded flying south) for White Wagtails of undetermined subspecies, 23 October to 6 November; all were singles other than five on 4 November. Ten of subspecies M.a. baicalensis were at Re on 29 October.
Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi Weigold—the southern limit of the breeding area perhaps lies not very far (from Hebei) as the migration began again in the grassy hills by the sea near Beidaihe as early as 16 August (1916). LT—’exceedingly abundant throughout September on the plain. Large flocks of this birds may also be seen passing during that month.’ H—seen daily or every few days, 8 August to 4th or perhaps 10 October. COE—950 bird-days, 10 April to 1 June.
1986: 5951 bird-days, 20 August to 26 October; 4800 were recorded from LH, flying south. Significant passage began on 27 August and the main passage a week later, with 4192 bird-days (70 percent of the total) logged from 3-23 September. Continued passing in some numbers until 7 October, after which date there were 35 bird-days, only six of which were from 15th to the last record on 26 October. The highest day totals were 505 (all flying south: 468 recorded from LH, 22 from SF and 15 from Se) on 13th, 373 (flying south) on 17th and 438 (flying south) on 19 September. This was one of the main species in the early morning movements of small passerines. As in spring 1985, it may be that our records of ‘Richard’s Pipits’ include some of the similar Blyth’s Pipits Anthus godlewskii, though the latter species is apparently far less common at Beidaihe (see below).
1987: 6414 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 21 October; 5990 were recorded flying south. Highest day totals of birds flying south were 901 on 10th, 700 on 18th, 439 on 19th, 588 on 21st and 335 on 26 September.
1988 (Ho): 5173 bird-days, 8 September to 18 October; highest day totals 785 on 16th and 645 on 18 September.
1989: daily from 14 September to early Octover, when 110 flew south on 17th and 155 on 18 September; 28 bird-days (six flew south), 8-17 October; highest count ten at TH on 9 October.
1990: 4091 bird-days, highest day totals 420 on 15th, 970 on 21 September; all before 23 October.
Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii LT, H, COE—no records. WH—passed in numbers at Beijing 15-23 August 1918, seen at the Western Tombs 10 October 1919; Hemmingsen and Guildal (1968) note that Wilder and Hubbard have reported the species from Beidaihe, but are uncertain whether they obtained specimens. Sh—notes that Wilder and Hubbard obtained specimens at three localities in Hebei, in May, August and September.
1987: singles flew south on 7th and 11th, and two flew south on 10th and 17 September (identified on the basis of call, though the observers did not have previous experience of the species).
1988 (Ho): singles flew south on 16th and 18th September.
1990: singles were recorded on 3rd and 11 September.
Olive-backed Pipit (Olive Tree-Pipit) Anthus hodgsoni LT—abundant spring migrant; passes again from the first week in September to the first week in October, late individual 14 November 1914. H—seen from 2 September to 1 November in two autumns; probably heard as late as 18 November 1943. Usually seen ‘in smaller numbers’. COE—1285 bird-days, 18 April to 25 May.
1986: 2176 bird-days were logged from 22 August to 20 November. The first record—of a single bird—was not followed until 10 September. The main passage was during 17-30 September, when 1340 bird-days (about 66 percent of the total) were logged. In the week before this period 313 bird-days were logged, and 321 in the week after. The maximum day total was 250 on 24 September. Like the Richard’s Pipit, this species featured prominently in the early morning small passerine movements—1754 birds, about 81 percent of the total, were recorded from LH, flying south.
1987: 2652 bird-days, throughout the survey though there was only one bird (on 22 August) until 7 September and after 5 November there were just four sightings, of an injured bird present from 13-24 November; 2321 were recorded flying south. Highest day totals of birds flying south were 130 on 15th, 327 on 18th and 268 on 21 September.
1988 (Ho): 1759 bird-days, 9 September to 18 November; highest day total 508 on 19 September.
1989: almost daily from 14 September to early October, when highest day total 140 flying south on 18 September; 68 bird-days (14 flew south), 9-31 October; highest day totals 16 on 12th and 14 on 13 October.
1990: before 23 October, 1153 bird-days, highest day totals 293 on 15th, 120 on 18th and 127 on 21 September. From 23 October, 34 bird-days (13 were recorded flying south), throughout the period; only recorded on two dates after 7 November, though highest day total was eight (six present, two flying south) on 11 November.
Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi LT—passes in May; not common. H—no records. COE—at least nine, 10 May to 1 June. Ch—migrates through east and northeast coastal areas.
1986: four birds were recorded: one from LH, flying south, on 19th, one at TH on 24th and two at Re on 28 September.
1987: 47 bird-days, 4 September to 5 October; all but one were recorded flying south (total may include a few Buff-bellied Pipits, as the call may be confused: Hornskov 1989); highest day total 20 on 18 September.
1988 (Ho): 21 bird-days, 8-26 September.
1990: 53 bird-days, highest day totals eight on 21st, and six on 20th, 22nd and 24 September; all before 23 October.
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus LT—passes in September. H—no records. WH (corr)—passing in numbers, early September 1924. COE—162 bird-days, 28 April to 20 May. Ch—migrates through east, northeast and central China.
1986: 612 bird-days were logged from 5 September to 13 October. The main passage was spread over the three-week period 10-30 September, when 165, 192 and 167 bird-days were logged in successive weeks, making 524 bird-days in all. The highest day total was 92 on 24 September; 253—about 41 percent of the bird-day total—were recorded from LH, flying south.
1987: 289 bird-days, 5 September to 16 October; 254 were recorded flying south, including 218 between 7th and 26 September; highest day total 53 on 18 September.
1988 (Ho): 549 bird-days, 8 September to 14 October.
1989: almost daily from 14 September to early October, when highest day total 34 flying south on 18 September; 11 bird-days (nine flew south), 10-24 October; eight flew south over 12-14 October.
1990: 370 bird-days, highest day totals 35 on 5th, 58 on 21st, 35 on 28th and 36 on 29 September; all before 23 October.
‘Water Pipits’: Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta blakistoni and Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens japonicus
LT—the Buff-bellied Pipit migrates in autumn ‘in company with the Wagtails and Swallows, many flocks of which fly by in late August and September. I have seen it in the marshes in October until the 25th of that month.’ Water Pipit found in the vicinity of Qinhuangdao in October and November; ‘It probably winters near unfrozen streams.’ WH—observations in the field may have been confused, and late spring records of Water Pipits may refer to the Buff-bellied Pipit. Water Pipits were ‘Common around the icy edges of clear mountain water all winter. They disappear late in April. My earliest autumn dates are in December but they doubtless arrive from the north much earlier.’ Only records of Buff-bellied Pipits were a specimen taken 2 May, and 2-25 September ‘seen in thousands’. H—saw many pipits which he believed were ‘this species’ (Water/Buff-bellied Pipits); only certain autumn dates 5 November 1942, 18 November 1944 (one shot; Buff-bellied Pipit). At Beijing on 2 January and 11 February 1946 saw several probable Water Pipits and one probable Buff-bellied Pipit. COE—384 bird-days, 24 March to 20 May.
1986: 1256 bird-days, 26 September to the end of the survey; 953 were recorded from LH, flying south. The main passage was from 8 October to 4 November, with 465 bird-days logged during the first two weeks of this period and 596 during the latter two; the highest day totals were 76 (flying south) on 11th, 101 (flying south) on 25 October and 90 (flying south) on 2 November. Favoured localities for birds present were Re and SF.
1987: 3888 bird-days, 22 September to 22 November; 3691 were recorded flying south, including 3040 from 12-26 October; highest day totals of south-flying birds were 440 on 14th, 400 on 21st and 450 on 22 October.
1988 (Ho): 2769 bird-days, 19 September to 16 November; 1978 were recorded from 11-18 October.
1989: seen from 5 October; 2455 bird-days (2390 flew south) were logged for ‘water’ pipits, 8 October to 16 November; highest day totals 633 on 13th and 330 on 20 October. Nine bird-days were logged for the Water Pipit: one at Re and six at YH on 13 October, and two at TH on 16 November; also five ‘water’ pipits which were probably this species were seen flying south on 16 November. Four Buff-bellied Pipits were seen at Re on 13 October.
1990: ‘water’ pipits: before 23 October, 522 bird-days, highest day total 85 on 18 October. From 23 October, 275 bird-days (255 were recorded flying south), throughout the period though scarcer in November—180 were recorded flying south from 23-27 October. Water Pipit: before 23 October, seven bird-days. From 23 October, three at Re on 29th and one at SF on 30 October, and two at YH on 16 November. Buff-bellied Pipit: singles were recorded on 20 October, at YH on 15th and Re on 16 November.
Our observations do not substantiate La Touche’s assertion that Buff-bellied Pipits pass in late August and September, which may have been based more on an assumption that they would have been with the flocks of pipits, wagtails and other birds than on observation or collection of the species (which he notes seeing in October). However, Wilder & Hubbard reported ‘thousands’ in September.
Until autumn 1989, we did not separate the two species, as they had not been ‘split’ before the survey, and rather few grounded birds were seen. It seems likely that the majority will have been Buff-bellied Pipits; and it appears that the Water Pipit tends to be more a winter visitor to the region than a passage migrant.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 21 May 2006 )
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